Andrew Samuel, president of Susquehanna Bank, grew up in a poor village in India where he lived with 15 other family members in one room, used a common well, had no electricity, cooked over an open fire and went to school barefoot.

Samuel shared the story of his childhood with a group of business and organization leaders in the Waynesboro Country Club Wednesday during an information meeting for Project Big Love. Project Big Love is Franklin County’s largest outreach that provides needy children and families with essentials for starting the school year. This year’s outreach will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Richard K. Sleicher Events Complex in Mont Alto.

Project Big Love, an initiative of the nonprofit organization Kaimon’s Call, features free backpacks, school supplies, athletic shoes, haircuts, food, Christian entertainment and games for the entire family.

“We want to bring another level of confidence to these children,” organizer Shon Duty of the Kaimon Group of Waynesboro said. “I grew up knowing what it was like to go to school with last year’s shoes on, held together with Shoe Goo. We want our guests of honor to know that the community cares about them, and that God cares about them.”

Wednesday’s meeting was an effort to spread the word about Project Big Love, recruit volunteers and gain sponsorships. Duty said the initiative has grown, and a similar event is being held in York County the weekend of July 25.

A helping hand

Samuel’s father was in the military, and moved his family to Africa where Samuel was able to get an education and learn English. Samuel eventually made his way to the United States, and pursued an education at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg. However, his father made $3,000 a year, and tuition at Messiah was $4,000 a year.

“A family in Mount Joy, Lancaster County, and Messiah, took care of me,” Samuel said. “God has his hand in everything. People were willing to give me a helping hand, and by doing that they didn’t just help me. They helped generations of people. They helped my children. And that is what you can do by helping Project Big Love. The impact you’re having could have generational impacts for years to come.”

Samuel said Susquehanna Bank is pleased to be a major sponsor and help children through Project Big Love. He added poverty does not just exist in other countries.

“This is going on today, right in our own backyard,” he added, noting an Egyptian family in Dillsburg was living without heat, and did not have enough blankets or coats to keep warm this winter. “If you don’t think these people need somebody to help make a difference, you’re dead wrong. Project Big Love needs your support. Yes, we need financial contributions, but we need your time as well.”

Page 2 of 3 - Special needs

Renee Wetzel of Blue Ridge Summit, a team leader with Project Big Love, spoke to the group about her daughter, Hannah, who has Down syndrome and congenital heart defects. Though the outreach was able to help more than 2,500 people last year, many special needs children had to leave because they could not handle the crowds and long lines.

“Special needs is something dear to me, and last year we missed the boat,” she said. “Parents with special needs children are under so much stress. We have decided to create an event just for them and their families so they can experience what all the other kids do. The parents need it because they are struggling and this will take something off of their plate. This is our chance to step up to let them know they are not alone, and that the community cares.”

The special needs event will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1, at the Mont Alto events complex.

For the common good

Duty told the group he hopes to provide 3,000 pairs of shoes to children this year. Last year, 1,750 pairs of shoes were given out, but smaller sizes ran out within the first few hours. He said more volunteers will help to move the long lines along this year, and serve more people.

Last year’s outreach also provided 80,000 pounds of groceries to needy families, who also had the opportunity to pray with volunteers and get free haircuts. Duty said he is hoping to have 30 hairstylists on hand this year. Last year there were only five stylists, but they were able to give 175 haircuts in six hours.

David Keller, chair of the Franklin County commissioners, said Wednesday it was fitting Duty and his wife, Tammy, president of Kaimon’s Call, held the meeting in Waynesboro.

“We’re talking about asking the community to step forward and help. Waynesboro really wrote the book on that,” he said, noting the countless civic organizations that pull together for the common good.

Keller said there is a need for Project Big Love in the community, adding the commissioners are responsible for dispersing $40 million worth of state and federal funds in the county each year for youth, special needs, mental health, drugs and alcohol and abuse programs.

“Those services are focused on about 5,000 people, which only comes out to about $8,000 per person. That sounds like a lot, but I’m here to tell you it’s not. There’s so much more that I wish we could do. There is a real need in this community.”

Page 3 of 3 - Bernie McGarity, president of the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce board, said Project Big Love is an excellent effort from the greater Waynesboro community.

“I am going to ask the board to contribute and to volunteer,” McGarity said. “My wife, Lou, and I are also going to spread the word at our church, St. Andrew, to get people involved to help.”

Scott Hershberger, director of economic development with Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc., said Project Big Love is an incredible idea, and has “truly grown into a meaningful initiative that the whole community can get behind.” He added he will do everything he can to promote the outreach on Mainstreet’s website, and through social media.

“As we said last night, people often associate words like ‘poverty,’ and ‘hunger,’ with big cities or foreign countries, but these issues definitely exist here in Franklin County,” Hershberger said this morning. “It’s no longer a secret that one or two days of kindness can leave a lasting impression on the lives of others. We have some amazing people in this area who want to be a part of the solution, and I look forward to seeing Project Big Love grow even bigger this year, and in the years to come. I encourage anyone to take advantage of the opportunity to see the smiles on the faces of those who are being helped by volunteering your time to help spread the ‘love.’”

For more information on volunteering, or donating to Project Big Love, call 788-4393, or visit: